George Washington's Tomb

a girl stands in front of george washington’s tomb

knowing full well

that all that remains is patriotic dust

to her left is the caretaker, standing by

the only witness to her reverence

to her right are magnolia trees

full snow blooms drowning in the jellied air

sunshine breaking like glass through the leaves

she decides to be alone, hushed, unmoving,

at rest for the moment

a chinese-american girl stands in front of george washington’s tomb

cinching, clutching, clasping for america

praying to love america

enough to make it better

in her gilded tears,

cerulean blue dreams,

and pacific-bound grail

she remembers her family’s jade chains

pulling themselves to a land of

two-story houses,

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